Flexible display device

ABSTRACT

A flexible display device includes a housing, a reel, a flexible screen component, and an alarm assembly. The housing is provided with a gap in communication with an inner cavity of the housing. The reel is located in the inner cavity of the housing and rotatably coupled to the housing. The flexible screen component has a fixed end and a stretching end arranged opposite to each other, the fixed end is secured to the reel, and the stretching end extends out of the housing through the gap. The alarm assembly is accommodated in the housing, and the alarm assembly includes an alarm and a detector. The detector is electrically coupled to the alarm. The detector is configured to detect a stretched length of the flexible screen component, and the alarm is configured to be triggered to raise an alarm when the flexible screen component is stretched to a preset length.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/306,595, filed Dec. 3, 2018, which is a U.S. National Stage Entry ofInternational Application No. PCT/CN2017/091335, filed Jun. 30, 2017,which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201610542623.0,filed Jul. 8, 2016. The entire disclosures of the aforementionedapplications are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a technical field of electronicdevices, and more particularly, to a flexible display device.

BACKGROUND

A screen of a display device, such as a screen of an existing smartphone, is generally fixed on the device and cannot be rolled up, so thatthe size of the screen is greatly affected by the size of the deviceitself, which is not conducive to achieving a large screen of thedisplay device.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a flexible display device.The flexible display device includes a housing, a heel, a flexiblescreen component, and an alarm assembly. The housing is provided with agap in communication with an inner cavity of the housing. The reel islocated in the inner cavity of the housing and rotatably coupled to thehousing. The flexible screen component has a fixed end and a stretchingend arranged opposite to each other, the fixed end of the flexiblescreen component is coupled to the heel, and the stretching end extendsout of the housing through the gap. The alarm assembly is accommodatedin the housing, and the alarm assembly includes an alarm and a detector.The detector is electrically coupled to the alarm. The detector isconfigured to detect a stretched length of the flexible screencomponent, and the alarm is configured to be triggered to raise an alarmwhen the flexible screen component is stretched to a preset length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to illustrate technical solutions in embodiments of the presentdisclosure more clearly, drawings required in the embodiments will bebriefly described below. Obviously, the drawings described below onlyshow a part of embodiments of the present disclosure, and based on thesedrawings, other drawings can be obtained by those of ordinary skill inthe art without creative efforts.

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a flexible display device in astretched state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the flexible display device ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic view of an alarm assembly in the flexibledisplay device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic view of another alarm assembly in theflexible display device of FIG. 1, in which the alarm assembly isprovided in a housing.

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic view of an internal structure of thealarm assembly in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Technical solutions in embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed clearly and completely with reference to the drawings.

The present disclosure relates to a flexible display device. Theflexible display device includes a housing, a flexible screen component,and an alarm assembly. The housing defines a gap and an inner cavity,and the gap is in communication with the inner cavity. The flexiblescreen component has a stretching end, and the stretching end extendsout of the housing through the gap. The alarm assembly is accommodatedin the housing, and the alarm assembly includes an alarm and a detector.The detector is electrically coupled to the alarm. The detector isconfigured to detect a stretched length of the flexible screencomponent, and the alarm is configured to be triggered to raise an alarmwhen the flexible screen component is stretched to a preset length.

The present disclosure further relates to a flexible display device. Theflexible display device includes a housing, a flexible screen component,and an alarm assembly. The housing defines an opening penetrating a sidewall of the housing. The flexible screen component is accommodated inthe housing and has a stretching end, and the stretching end extends outof the housing through the opening. The alarm assembly is provided tothe housing, and the alarm assembly includes an alarm and a detector.The detector is electrically coupled to the alarm. The detector isconfigured to detect a stretched length of the flexible screencomponent, and the alarm is configured to be triggered to raise an alarmwhen the flexible screen component is stretched to a preset length.

The present disclosure still further relates to a flexible displaydevice. The flexible display device includes a housing, a flexiblescreen component and an alarm assembly. The housing has a hollowcolumnar shape and defines a gap. The gap is in communication with aninterior of the housing. The flexible screen component is accommodatedin the housing, and the flexible screen component has a fixed end and astretching end arranged opposite to each other, the fixed end is securedin the housing, and the stretching end extends out of the housingthrough the gap. The alarm assembly is accommodated in the housing, andthe alarm assembly includes an alarm and a detector. The detector iselectrically coupled to the alarm. The detector is configured to detecta stretched length of the flexible screen component, and the alarm isconfigured to be triggered to raise an alarm when the flexible screencomponent is stretched to a preset length.

A flexible display device according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure may be any device having communication and storage functions,such as a tablet computer, a mobile phone, an e-reader, a remotecontroller, a personal computer (PC), a notebook computer, an in-vehicledevice, a network television, a wearable device, and othernetwork-enabled smart devices.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a flexible display device 100 isprovided. The flexible display device 100 includes a housing 1, a reel2, a flexible screen component 3 and an alarm assembly 4. The flexiblescreen component 3 is wound onto the reel 2, and the reel 2 isaccommodated in the housing 1. The flexible screen component 3 can bestretched to an outside of the housing 1 through a gap of the housing 1.During the stretching of the flexible screen component 3, the alarmassembly 4 can alert a stretched length of the flexible screen component3 that requires an alarm, to inform a user of a current stretched stateof the flexible screen component 3.

In an embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the housing 1 has a hollowcolumnar shape, and has a teardrop-shaped cross section. The housing 1is externally provided with one gap (not illustrated), and the gap iselongated and in communication with an inner cavity 11 b of the housing1, such that the flexible screen component 3 situated in the housing 1can be stretched to the outside of the housing 1 through the gap. Itcould be understood that the housing 1 is made of a metal material.Certainly, in other embodiments, the housing 1 may also be pen-shaped,cylindrical or the like. Certainly, in other embodiments, the housing 1may be made of plastics or the like.

It could be understood that the housing 1 includes a hollow cylinderbody 11 and two side covers 12, the cylinder body 11 has two open endsarranged opposite to each other, and the two side covers 12 aredetachably attached to the two open ends respectively, in which way thehousing is constituted. The housing 1 is configured as the abovedetachable structure, so that components (such as the reel 2) within thehousing 1 extend into the inner cavity 11 b of the housing 1 through theopen ends of the cylinder body 11. Certainly, in other embodiments, thehousing 1 can have other structures. For example, a part of a side wallof the cylinder body 11, coupling the two open ends, is detachablycoupled to the cylinder body 11, that is, the removal of this part ofthe side wall allows the components to be accommodated in the housing 1to be placed in the inner cavity 11 b of the housing 1, andcorrespondingly, the two side covers 12 can be coupled and secured tothe two open ends respectively.

In an embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the reel 2 is cylindrical,and the reel 2 is accommodated in the inner cavity 11 b of the housing 1and is able to rotate in the inner cavity 11 b of the housing 1, suchthat when the flexible screen component 3 wound around the reel 2 isstretched by an external force, the reel 2 can be rotated in the housing1 as the flexible screen component 3 is stretched, thereby realizing thestretching of the flexible screen component 3. The reel 2 is a cylinder,and since the reel 2 generally occupies most of a volume of the innercavity 11 b of the housing 1, the reel 2 is configured as a hollowcylinder, so that components can be accommodated within the reel 2 toreduce the need for the size of the inner cavity 11 b of the housing 1,which further optimizes the structure of the flexible screen component3. It could be understood that two ends of the reel 2 are rotatablycoupled to the two side covers 12 correspondingly. Correspondingly, theside cover 12 is provided with an annular protrusion 12 a that protrudesfrom the side cover 12, and the annular protrusion 12 a of one sidecover 12 extends into an opening of the cylinder, so that the reel 2 isrotatably coupled to the two side covers 12. Certainly, in otherembodiments, the reel 2 can be configured as a solid cylinder.Certainly, in other embodiments, the cylinder body 11 of the housing 1can further be provided with a bearing seat, and the reel 2 is carriedon the bearing seat to realize the rotation of the reel 2 in the housing1.

In an embodiment, the flexible screen component 3 can be used fordisplay and touch control. The flexible screen component 3 can berepeatedly bent and have elasticity. In an embodiment, the flexiblescreen component 3 has a fixed end S1 and a stretching end S2 arrangedopposite to each other, and two side edges S3 coupled between the fixedend S1 and the stretching end S2. The fixed end S1 is secured to thereel 2, and the stretching end S2 is located outside the housing 1, sothat it is convenient to pull the flexible screen component 3 out of thehousing 1 by stretching the stretching end S2.

It could be understood that, in order to make the flexible screencomponent 3 have certain rigidity (the flexible screen component 3 isnot too soft and thus is not easily deformed), and improve the user'sconvenience in operating the flexible screen component 3, the flexiblescreen component 3 includes a flexible screen 31 and a flexible support32, and the flexible screen 31 is stacked on and attached to theflexible support 32. In an embodiment, the flexible support 32 is formedby hybrid injection molding of a thin steel sheet and silica gel, sothat the flexible support 32 can be repeatedly bent and have elasticity.The flexible screen 31 is stacked on and attached to the flexiblesupport 32, and when the flexible screen component 3 is unrolled, theflexible screen component 3 can be fixed in a certain shape due to thesupport of the flexible support 32, rather than be deformed easily.Certainly, in other embodiments, the flexible screen component 3 can becomposed of a flexible screen 31. Alternatively, the flexible support 32can be replaced with a thin silicone sheet.

It could be understood that the flexible screen component 3 has athickness of 5 mm, or the flexible screen component 3 has a thickness of6 mm, or the flexible screen component 3 has a thickness of 5 mm to 6mm. The inventors have found through a large number of experiments thatlimiting the thickness of the flexible screen component to 5 mm to 6 mmcan facilitate the winding of the flexible screen component 3 andfurther improve the reliability of the flexible display device 100.

In an embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the alarm assembly 4is accommodated in the housing 1, and the alarm assembly 4 includes analarm 42 and a detector 41, 43 electrically coupled to the alarm 42. Thedetector 41, 43 detects the stretched length of the flexible screencomponent 3, and when the detector 41, 43 detects the flexible screencomponent 3 is stretched to a preset length, the alarm 42 is triggeredto raise an alarm.

In an embodiment, the alarm 42 may be an audible alarm, or the alarm 42may be an audible and visual alarm, or the alarm 42 may be a vibrator.The alarm 42 can be provided to a circuit board, and the circuit boardprovided with the alarm 42 is secured to one side cover 12 and extendsinto the interior of the reel 2. When the alarm 42 is in wiredelectrical connection with the detectors 41, 43, it is also possible toroute within the cylinder of the reel 2, that is, a wire between thealarm 42 and the detector 41, 43 is located within the reel 2, therebyfurther optimizing the structure of the flexible screen component 3.Certainly, in other embodiments, the alarm 42 can also be providedcorrespondingly in the light of actual situations, and for example, thealarm 42 is placed in other positions of the housing 1.

In an embodiment, the detector 41, 43 have a variety of structures. Thecooperation between the detector 41, 43 and the alarm 42 can achieve thepurpose of reminding the user to prevent the damage of the flexiblescreen component 3.

In an embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the detector 41 includes atransmitter 411 and a receiver 412. The transmitter 411 is provided tothe side edge S3. The receiver 412 is electrically coupled to thetransmitter 411 and the alarm 42 separately. When the flexible screencomponent 3 is stretched to the preset length, the receiver 412 receivesa signal transmitted by the transmitter 411, and the alarm 42 raises thealarm.

In an embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, since the transmitter411 is provided to the side edge S3 of the flexible screen component 3,the transmitter 411 will rotate along with the side edge S3 of theflexible screen component 3 when the flexible screen component 3 isstretched. When the transmitter 411 rotates to a certain position, adistance between the transmitter 411 and the receiver 412 can satisfythat the signal transmitted by the transmitter 411 can be received bythe receiver 412, and the receiver 412 sends the received signal to thealarm 42, based on which signal, the circuit board on the alarm 42 sendsan alarm signal to trigger the alarm 42 to raise the alarm, so as toremind the user of the current stretched condition of the flexiblescreen component 3. It could be understood that, the position of thereceiver 412 is correspondingly provided according to an actuallyrequired alarm position. During the stretching of the flexible screencomponent 3, the later the receiver 412 receives the signal of thetransmitter 411, the longer the current stretched length of the flexiblescreen component 3 is when the alarm 42 sends the alarm signal, and themore accurately the user can be reminded that the flexible screencomponent 3 is nearly stretched in place, thereby avoiding the damage ofthe flexible screen component 3 due to further stretching. Theabove-mentioned alarm assembly 4 completely utilizes the transmission ofelectrical signals, and has less limitation on the position of thecomponents in the alarm assembly 4.

In an embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the detector 43 islocated outside the reel 2. The detector 43 detects a space between alimiting portion 3 a and the detector 43 during the stretching of theflexible screen component 3, to obtain the stretched length of theflexible screen component 3. The limiting portion 3 a is provided to theside edge S3 and adjacent to the fixed end S1. When the detector 43detects that the flexible screen component 3 is stretched to the presetlength, the alarm 42 raises the alarm. It could be understood that thespace between the detector 43 and the limiting portion 3 a iscorrespondingly set according to actual situations. For example, thespace between the detector 43 and the limiting portion 3 a may be zero,or the space between the detector 43 and the limiting portion 3 a may bea certain distance.

The limiting portion 3 a is a limiting protrusion provided to andprotruding from the side edge S3.

It could be understood that, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, thedetector 43 includes an outer casing 431, a switch assembly 432, and aspring 433. The outer casing 431 is located outside the reel 2, and theouter casing 431 has one protruding hole 4312 and an accommodatingcavity 431 a in communication with the protruding hole 4312. The switchassembly 432 and the spring 433 are located in the accommodating cavity431 a. The switch assembly 432 includes a switch 4321 and a switch cap4322. The spring 433 is elastically coupled between the switch 4321 andthe switch cap 4322. An end of the switch 4321 protrudes through theprotruding hole 4312. When the flexible screen component 3 is stretcheduntil the limiting portion 3 a abuts against the end of the switch 4321,and the limiting portion 3 a pushes the switch 4321 until the switch4321 is electrically coupled to the switch cap 4322, the alarm 42 raisesthe alarm. In an embodiment, the outer casing 431 is secured to the sidecover 12 and located outside the reel 2. The outer casing 431 is arectangular casing defining the accommodating cavity 431 a therein, andtwo openings of the accommodating cavity 431 a arranged opposite to eachother are located at upper and lower ends of the outer casing 431correspondingly to form two protruding holes 4312. Two ends of theswitch 4321 protrude from the two protruding holes 4312 respectively.During the stretching of the flexible screen component 3, the limitingportion 3 a rotates correspondingly as the flexible screen component 3is stretched, until the limiting portion 3 a is stretched to abutagainst the end of the switch 4321. In such a case, if the stretching ofthe flexible screen component 3 continues, the limiting portion 3 apushes the switch 4321 against an elastic force of the spring 433 toslide until the switch 4321 is electrically coupled with the switch cap4322. At this time, the alarm 42 raises the alarm to inform the userthat the flexible screen component 3 has already been stretched in placeand cannot be further stretched. The cooperation between the detector 43and the limiting portion 3 a can inform the user of the currentstretched state of the flexible screen component 3 by the damping senseof the elastic member when the flexible screen component 3 is nearlystretched in place; moreover, when the flexible screen component 3 is ina fully stretched state, since the switch 4321 has been electricallycoupled to the switch cap 4322, the limiting portion 3 a cannot continueto advance, and hence the flexible screen component 3 is prevented frombeing further stretched, thereby providing better protection for theflexible screen component 3 and enhancing the reliability of theflexible display device 100. Certainly, in other embodiments, thedetector is a pressure sensor, and the alarm raises the alarm when theflexible screen component is stretched until the limiting portion abutsagainst the detector.

It could be understood that, in some embodiment, only the detector 41can be provided, or only the detector 43 can be provided, or thedetector 41 and the detector 43 can be provided at the same time.

It could be understood that one or two or more detectors 41 can beprovided, or one or two or more detectors 43 can be provided. When twodetectors 41 are provided, the two detectors 41 can be electricallycoupled to one alarm 42 at the same time, and correspondingly, twotransmitters 411 are provided to two side edges S3 respectively. Whentwo detectors 43 are provided, the two detectors 43 can be electricallycoupled to one alarm 42 at the same time, and correspondingly, the sideedges S3 are provided with two limiting portions 3 a to cooperate withthe two detectors 43 correspondingly.

When the flexible display device 100 needs to be stretched, thestretching end S2 is pulled so that the flexible screen component 3extends out of the housing 1 through the gap; when the flexible screencomponent 3 is nearly stretched in place, which will be detected by thedetector 41, 43, the alarm 42 raises the alarm to inform the user of thecurrent stretched state of the flexible screen component 3, therebyavoiding damaging the flexible screen component 3 due to furtherstretching of the flexible screen component 3. For the flexible displaydevice 100 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, theflexible screen component 3 is accommodated in the housing 1, and theflexible screen component 3 can be flexibly deformed under the action ofthe external force, that is, exhibit a bent or flattened state, suchthat the housing 1 of the flexible display device 100 is less affectedby the size of the flexible screen component 3, that is, the housing 1,for accommodating the flexible screen component 3, of the flexibledisplay device 100 can have a smaller size, but the flexible displaydevice 100 can have a larger display area. Moreover, for the flexibledisplay device 100, the alarm assembly 4 is provided in the housing 1,and when the flexible screen component 3 is in the fully stretchedstate, the user can be informed and hence will not further stretch theflexible screen component 3, thereby avoiding the damage of the flexiblescreen component 3, and improving the reliability of the flexibledisplay device 100.

The above are some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should benoted that those skilled in the art can make improvements andmodifications without departing from the principles of the presentdisclosure, and these improvements and modifications are also within theprotection scope of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flexible display device, comprising: a housingprovided with a gap in communication with an inner cavity of thehousing; a reel located in the inner cavity of the housing and rotatablycoupled to the housing; a flexible screen component having a fixed endand a stretching end arranged opposite to each other, the fixed end ofthe flexible screen component being secured to the reel, and thestretching end extending out of the housing through the gap; and analarm assembly accommodated in the housing, and comprising an alarm anda detector electrically coupled to the alarm, the detector beingconfigured to detect a stretched length of the flexible screencomponent, and the alarm being configured to be triggered to raise analarm when the flexible screen component is stretched to a presetlength.
 2. The flexible display device according to claim 1, wherein theflexible screen component has a side edge coupled between the stretchingend and the fixed end; the detector comprises a transmitter and areceiver, the transmitter being provided to the side edge, and thereceiver being electrically coupled to the transmitter and the alarmseparately; when the flexible screen component is stretched to thepreset length, the receiver receives a signal transmitted by thetransmitter, and the alarm raises the alarm.
 3. The flexible displaydevice according to claim 1, wherein the flexible screen component has aside edge coupled between the stretching end and the fixed end; the sideedge is provided with a limiting portion protruding from the side edgeand adjacent to the fixed end; the detector is located outside the reel;the detector detects a space between the limiting portion and thedetector during the stretching of the flexible screen component, toobtain the stretched length of the flexible screen component, and whenthe flexible screen component is stretched to the preset length, thealarm is triggered to raise the alarm.
 4. The flexible display deviceaccording to claim 3, wherein the limiting portion is a limitingprotrusion provided to and protruding from the side edge.
 5. Theflexible display device according to claim 3, wherein the detector is apressure sensor, and the alarm is triggered to raise the alarm when theflexible screen component is stretched until the limiting portion abutsagainst the detector.
 6. The flexible display device according to claim3, wherein the detector comprises: an outer casing located outside thereel, and having one protruding hole and an accommodating cavity incommunication with the protruding hole; a switch assembly accommodatedin the accommodating cavity and comprising a switch and a switch cap,the switch having an end protruding through the one protruding hole; anda spring accommodated in the accommodating cavity and coupled betweenthe switch and the switch cap; when the flexible screen component isstretched until the limiting portion abuts against the end of theswitch, and the limiting portion pushes the switch until the switch iselectrically coupled to the switch cap, the alarm raises the alarm. 7.The flexible display device according to claim 1, wherein the housingcomprises a cylinder and two side covers, the cylinder has two open endsarranged opposite to each other, and the two side covers are provided tothe two open ends correspondingly; the reel has two ends rotatablycoupled to the two side covers correspondingly; and the detector issecured to the side cover.
 8. The flexible display device according toclaim 2, wherein the housing comprises a cylinder and two side covers,the cylinder has two open ends arranged opposite to each other, and thetwo side covers are provided to the two open ends correspondingly; thereel has two ends rotatably coupled to the two side coverscorrespondingly; and the detector is secured to the side cover.
 9. Theflexible display device according to claim 3, wherein the housingcomprises a cylinder and two side covers, the cylinder has two open endsarranged opposite to each other, and the two side covers are provided tothe two open ends correspondingly; the reel has two ends rotatablycoupled to the two side covers correspondingly; and the detector issecured to the side cover.
 10. The flexible display device according toclaim 4, wherein the housing comprises a cylinder and two side covers,the cylinder has two open ends arranged opposite to each other, and thetwo side covers are provided to the two open ends correspondingly; thereel has two ends rotatably coupled to the two side coverscorrespondingly; and the detector is secured to the side cover.
 11. Theflexible display device according to claim 5, wherein the housingcomprises a cylinder and two side covers, the cylinder has two open endsarranged opposite to each other, and the two side covers are provided tothe two open ends correspondingly; the reel has two ends rotatablycoupled to the two side covers correspondingly; and the detector issecured to the side cover.
 12. The flexible display device according toclaim 6, wherein the housing comprises a cylinder and two side covers,the cylinder has two open ends arranged opposite to each other, and thetwo side covers are provided to the two open ends correspondingly; thereel has two ends rotatably coupled to the two side coverscorrespondingly; and the detector is secured to the side cover.
 13. Theflexible display device according to claim 7, wherein the reel is acylinder, and the alarm is secured to one of the side covers and extendsinto the reel.
 14. The flexible display device according to claim 1,wherein the alarm is an audible alarm; or the alarm is an audible andvisual alarm; or the alarm is a vibrator.
 15. The flexible displaydevice according to claim 1, wherein the flexible screen componentcomprises a flexible screen and a flexible support, and the flexiblescreen is stacked on and attached to the flexible support.